Summary:
The Mount Carmel area of Pennsylvania is home to three schools - Mount Carmel Area Elementary School, Mount Carmel Area High School, and Mount Carmel Area JH - all of which serve students in the Mount Carmel Area School District. Unfortunately, the data paints a concerning picture, as these schools are consistently performing below state averages on key academic metrics.
None of the three Mount Carmel schools can be considered standouts, as their PSSA and Keystone exam proficiency rates lag significantly behind state averages, ranging from 20.5% to 59.4% proficient or better compared to state averages of 34.1% to 65.3%. The high school's 4-year graduation rate of 81.7% is also below the state average, and its dropout rate of 4.0% is higher than the state norm. Socioeconomic challenges are evident, with all three schools having very high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, from 74.24% at the high school to 100% at the middle school.
Compounding these academic and socioeconomic issues is a lack of diversity, as the student populations at all three Mount Carmel schools are overwhelmingly white, ranging from 81.27% to 82.15%. Despite the relatively high per-student spending, which ranges from $11,820 to $14,828, the schools are still struggling to improve student outcomes. Addressing the systemic challenges facing the Mount Carmel area schools will likely require a comprehensive, data-driven approach involving community stakeholders, educational leaders, and policymakers.
Thank you for your feedback!